I have decided to write a thread telling the story of what I know about my buggy, the lead up to buying it and some of the things that I have had done since owning it. It is not going to be War and Peace and once I am up to date I will just add to it as and when there is something new to report. It is for my own benefit as much as anything just so that there is a record of things I have done. There is even a very exciting bit where I actually do some building! Anyway, back to the late 1980's for now.
The very first buggy I went to view was in Budleigh Salterton (Devon) and this would have been around 1988 (ish). My mate drove me up there after I saw an advert in Auto Trader (the actual magazine)! The Beach Buggies were always right at the back under 'Miscellaneous'! I can only remember that the buggy I looked at was red and a long wheel base and then my Mum telling me what a stupid idea it would be to buy it. In fairness it would have been my only car and I would have had to have driven it to work every day all year round so it didn't happen back then.
If anyone on here happens to recognise themselves as the seller then I sincerely apologise but I did genuinely want to buy it!
Fast forward to the summer of 2020 and this one appeared for sale less than a mile from my Mums house and about 3 or 4 miles from where I live. I phoned up to enquire and was told that it had already gone.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fbJ1Mmhq/Screenshot-20211204-135252-Photos.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9zwc9n6)
I don't know if the person that bought this is on this site but if so where are you? I have never seen it out and about.
Next time: Homer comes home!
the blue manta was at a flat four picnic held at Bidford on Avon 5 or 6 years ago it got sold shortly after.
MantaRay is also available in yellow.
(https://i.postimg.cc/WbXjGMzL/DSC-0027.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tYZLynF2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Nj9VKTrx/DSC-0020.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/87Gw374F)
Nice pictures Hugh ;-)up
The blue / purple one obviously was not meant to be for me despite being so nearby.
I was clearly destined to be team yellow.
:D
A couple of days after ringing up about the blue Manta Ray I saw 2 buggies for sale but they were in Kent. Out of the two it was the yellow Hustler that caught my eye. I spoke to Mrs Cornish who said 'Well if you want it go and get it'. About 3 seconds later I had taken the day off work and was on a 650 mile round trip to Kent! I ended up buying the buggy and arranged to have it delivered.
I returned home from Kent with just a box of assorted spares, the side panels and the log book. I scrubbed and cleaned the panels as best I could but they remained stubbornly mucky. I also cleaned the steering wheel which I planned to put back on in place of the hand made chain link one that was on it at the time. (As seen in the Dec photo challenge).
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvmf64Rf/20200918-110212.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wtRrMfPw)
few days later the buggy arrived and was soon given the name Homer.
(https://i.postimg.cc/7LRwHpJM/20200921-134806.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rd5vgZJK)
Next time: Spaghetti Junction
Similar to how mine arrived Dave. When my garage now rings me this picture comes up. 😂😂
(https://i.postimg.cc/HnbqRL1j/IMG-1477.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fSTq0DLh)
;D
That's brilliant Deb.
There is a rich history of recovery and towing images on this site, and throughout parts of the buggy world, so you may get flooded with towed images if you are not careful.
However, I simply make the point that you can get colour matching or similar liveries:
(https://i.postimg.cc/yxFxT9fg/P1000883.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Zv5Jb9z4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SNkxhnTd/P1000884.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xqp2G1SN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8C2Tncfh/P1000892.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d79MhqB1)
That is certainly a colour coordinated recovery Hugh!
I can go on...
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9chmMkC/P1000910.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Jyq1fwGf)
...and on...
(https://i.postimg.cc/hGmGn6xW/P1000914.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/068vdtcc)
...but you get the idea.
Definitely a popular theme in the buggy world for some of us. 😂😂
Oh lord.... ;D
I thought my T25 was unreliable.......
Quote from: Hugh on December 17, 2021, 09:10:44 AM
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9chmMkC/P1000910.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Jyq1fwGf)
Even the petrol station is coordinated in this one.
:D ;-)up
The second part of your lift home after the dropped valve in Germany and the rest of us endured the wettest coldest June day to travel home ;D
Yes it was Biblical weather you lot headed into from Harwich leaving me to await the AA truck which had good door seals, efficient wipers and high visibility.... so I have quite pleasant memories of the 200 mile trip across country !
(https://i.postimg.cc/5yCBrTSp/P1000899.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JHRHDTgB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sx7WmS3N/P1000900.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/m1Zh2PzY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4drtpwRc/P1000902.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ftfJNcLW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NjgX85Sd/P1000903.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nCPMpcHm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYWgyQzW/P1000904.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1gpzGGD0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/y8vZL7zs/P1000906.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/18VXthtj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1zXNTb96/P1000907.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8W6PYPQ)
Some terrific photos there.
Can't believe the colour of that sky!
:o
Quote from: Hugh on December 17, 2021, 03:43:40 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/1zXNTb96/P1000907.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/B8W6PYPQ)
This was the 2017 IBW return leg and on this site you'll find an excellent write up by Dave DND that will take you through the whole trip including the horrendous ordeal the various buggys encountered trying to get through the torrential rain - many had to be recovered after trying valiantly to cope with the unusual 'summer rain'.
;-)up
Managed to find the thread and it is quite a read. I have made it to the end of page 1 and you lot have made it to Holland.
So far so good. Apart from quite a lot of u-turns that is!
Well I have made it to the end and I'm still dry unlike most of you at the time. Sounds like an epic trip.
I lived in Germany myself for 3 years and we lived right on the Dutch border so I am very familiar with the wonderful 'pannenkoeken' that you all enjoyed. All the photos and the well written account of the trip certainly takes me back to my time over there.
;-)up
You need a return trip there Dave although IBW 2022 is looking doubtful we live in hope it may happen possibly in Belgium as theirs has been cancelled twice.
I would love to go back and actually hope to next year. I left there in 1999 when the German currency was the Deutschmark and in Holland it was Guilders.
I have to admit however that I cannot imagine driving my buggy that far and I don't know how you guys do it.
Even if the buggy could make it I'm not sure I could.
;D
I thought I had gone quite a long way in mine when I drove a loop up to Newquay, across to St. Austell then back home via Truro. Probably a round trip of about 70 miles! Maybe I will have to build it up gradually!
I don't mind the distance just not in the buggy. When I lived there I once drove back to Cornwall for a weekend. I was probably driving for longer than I was actually home for!
As I wait to get my buggy back I may as well add a bit more to this.
One of the first things I did with the buggy was to remove the chain link steering wheel that the previous owner had made. It was not to my taste and was rather uncomfortable to use.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCsWxFv7/20211209-161254.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R6byGQQq)
The next thing was to get the electrics sorted out and to arrange for someone who knows what they are doing to go over the buggy and make sure everything was working correctly.
This is what lurked beneath the dashboard.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VNBHfmnT/Screenshot-20211205-194536-Photos.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/15qBRyZH/Screenshot-20211205-194607-Gallery.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The 2 bulbs you see hanging down seemed to have a life of their own and just came on if they felt like it! You might also just about be able to make it the toggle switches hidden under the dash for the indicators and wipers. It was generally a case of hoping that you had indicated rather than put the wipers on! Not that it made much difference anyway because nothing really worked properly!
Homer was away for some time having the necessary work completed and I got him back on Christmas Eve. Everything was now working properly and I had 12 months MOT to boot.
The box of assorted parts that I was given when I bought the buggy included a photo album with some old pictures. I have posted some of these before but here are a few different ones.
Whilst I am firmly ensconced in the Team Yellow camp it seems that Homer hasn't always been. The colour has previously been blue and then purple. Or as it says on some of the documentation 'blue and silver' then 'mauve'. It looks like it changed to yellow in 2011.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1XpKHKBd/20211217-094533.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTmY3GZP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7YnVJmfG/20211217-094541.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dLDdzRRw)
(https://i.postimg.cc/6QyLSKzn/20211217-094548.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Y4BWGJ5C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DZGQvc9z/20211217-094557.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tZXnDFC0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQ453HMq/20211217-094603.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4n2HbKDM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/T19D1NCT/20211217-094611.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LgJX0TcW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3wv0mxnS/20211217-094618.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/94cfjC3Z)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d34hwkV1/20211217-094826.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fSSzvbXn)
Yellow is so right for this buggy.
That wiring looks pretty decent by my standards....oh yes I'm the one who has had regular wiring issues...well at least until Snoopy very very kindly volunteered to pull it all out and replace it with something fit for purpose.
You probably don't need it but Chad on here is the acknowledged professional buggy wiring go to man - if he isn't too booked up. If you want another good buggy read then his around the coastal Piers charity safari with George - 'Pier Pressure' - is a must.
Couldn't agree more Hugh - love the yellow.
I will have a look for the charity safari thread and have a read.
If you can stand the excitement my next instalment will actually include me doing some building (Yeah I know!) so stand by for that!
;D
Nice to see a bit of history
Quote from: Hugh on December 21, 2021, 05:40:51 PM
If you want another good buggy read then his around the coastal Piers charity safari with George - 'Pier Pressure' - is a must.
Wow what an epic challenge. And what a superb result with all the money raised.
Fabulous effort and a huge well done to everyone involved.
Well Dave you are catching up on some epic fairly recent back stories. You will be becoming familiar with the pretty buggys, the not so shiny buggys, the reliable buggys, the breakdown buggys...and some of their drivers.
I am indeed Hugh and I am also getting inspired to attempt to venture a bit further afield in mine when I get it back (hopefully very soon 🤞).
Mind you 2500 miles in 11 days is probably a bit of a stretch ;D
I think my record for a single outing sits at about 70 miles so far which may not sound a lot but is creeping up from the very short drives I was doing when I first got it.
Thanks a good distance to start Dave it was months before mine could get off the drive, I used to start it pull out of the garage and then it would not restart. Now the last couple of years have been fun with still the odd little problem, but worth all the hassle. 😂😂 Deb
Having got Homer back on Christmas Eve 2020 and with a full 12 months ticket I promptly went straight out for a cruise along the coast road with my mate in our newly formed '2 seats no roof club (Camborne Division)'. A small but keen club with both members in attendance for the inaugural Christmas Cruise! Sadly we were unable to repeat the event this year but I will just gloss over that for now.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zDTdgC4n/Screenshot-20211205-194857-Photos.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I was absolutely freezing but he has a heater in his car and was nice and toasty. I still prefer the buggy though even without a heater! I have also upgraded my heating system this year with my new heated gloves although I have not yet had the chance to try them out.
In April 2021 I became slightly fed up at having to choose between having a passenger or taking the roof with me.
At that time I had no storage at all other than a tiny space behind the seats. If I wanted to take the roof along without fitting it the only place it could go was in the passenger foot well meaning that there was no room for a passenger.
In the back of the buggy there was just a wooden board covered in black felt and I thought that there was room to install a small luggage compartment. (Stand by for a bit of actual building!)
I bought some materials and built a storage box which will not win any design or build awards but it does the job. It looks OK from the outside and is big enough to hold the roof and a few other bits such as my furry hat and gloves! I also fitted a fire extinguisher. This is the closest I have come to actually carrying out some work on the buggy myself.
(https://i.postimg.cc/br6StFPy/20210421-141633.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8f6C84s9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jdFJq9vv/20210423-125952.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RNw0Xgkn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3JVdQGJc/20210428-115402.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzCFjz8G)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hx6kZch3/20210509-142929.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wysz3vHs)
(https://i.postimg.cc/G2gbJ045/20210513-114128.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KkLXxHrP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hjXtYPRB/20210513-113815.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N9wt9t0J)
A section of it unclips and removes allowing access to the battery. There is also a little access flap for the other electrics.
The lid holds itself up with pistons and it locks shut with 2 locking T-handles.
I am quite pleased with this really. It fits well, looks alright and does what I wanted.
Crucially I can now take both a passenger and my roof with me at the same time!
That wiring..... so typical of the kit car / home build situation..... The chain steering wheel..... lost for words..... each to their own ;D ;D
Stowage boxes are useful as stuff can be left in the buggy out of sight.
Quote from: Cornishdave on December 28, 2021, 11:09:57 AM
Mind you 2500 miles in 11 days is probably a bit of a stretch ;D
I hate to break it to you mate, but I`m counting on some South West support next time we head over for an IBW - that's around 1300 miles in 5 days ;)
Yes both you Dave's are lucky in having the extra legitimate journey time to enjoy at both the start and end of an IBW.
And don't worry (Cornish) Dave on any cruise or IBW there are frequent stops to fuel, snack, tinker with a buggy, admire the scene or wonder where we are !
Quote from: Dave DND on December 29, 2021, 10:20:20 AM
I hate to break it to you mate, but I`m counting on some South West support next time we head over for an IBW - that's around 1300 miles in 5 days ;)
So roughly how long do I have to build up to that?
Quote from: Cornishdave on December 29, 2021, 01:31:22 PM
So roughly how long do I have to build up to that?
I`m hoping for 2023
Don't worry about reliability etc as we travel with the best Buggy pit crew imaginable ;-)up
Provided I can make it as far as you to start with ;D
Quote from: Cornishdave on December 29, 2021, 03:39:31 PM
Provided I can make it as far as you to start with ;D
Mine should be back on the road shortly, so we will have to have a few practice runs in each others direction ;-)up
Sounds good to me.
Where's halfway do you reckon?
Saltash? ish?
Saltash Probably about half way - however, we tend to drive to Mevagissey a lot for Fish & Chips in the Sharks Fin - Well worth the drive for us as the food is awesome
Ooh Mevagissey. That sounds like an adventure to me!
I now have a revised estimated completion date for my buggy of 21st January at which point I hope to be able to:
1. Update this thread with everything that has been completed on it;
2. Arrange an adventure to Mevagissey and hopefully meet up with Dave DND (if he hasn't got fed up waiting and been down and bought his fish and chips without me). This should also incorporate...
3. Getting a current photo to submit for the January challenge
4. Get some miles on the clock and test out those new heated gloves that are sitting here all charged up ready to go.
Fingers well and truly crossed.
:D
We're praying for you fellow Dave. 8)
Thanks Bajaowa.
I should pop down and see you too, after all you are only down the road.
Get a Philps pasty?
:-\
Sounds good. When it gets warmer! ;-)up
Has been very much looking forward to getting the buggy back today but have been told that the brake master cylinder failed just before taking it for MOT and now booked in for next Thursday.
:'(
Annoying, yet at least it's not peak season buggy weather when you might be missing a get together.
That is very true. Patience is a virtue. A boring one but a virtue none the less!
;D
That's a shame mate, but it will soon be with you
and then you are going to get dragged all over the country with it as we have lots of shows needing a South West presence ;-)up
Another week to go.
Keep the faith!
::)
Quote from: Cornishdave on January 27, 2022, 02:14:33 PM
Another week to go.
Keep the faith!
::)
Sometimes an aged brake master cylinder that was fine until you changed a hose or cylinder and pushed the pedal full travel where it never goes on bleeding can cause problems with the rust in the bore where the fluid has not been changed and water has collected damaging the seals as they pass over it.
Thanks Snoopy.
The guy doing the job for me said that 2 new ones in a row failed so he got the third one from a different supplier and it seems to be working fine. 🤞
Some cylinders are hard to bleed even with a pressure bleeder, I tried all sorts on Hughs buggy with a pressure bleeder but the pedal was still very low and pumped up but we cured it by clamping both rear lines then bleeding the front with the pedal it worked and pedal went near solid so unclamped the rear and hey presto perfect pedal.
A standard tandem master cylinder can be £50 or £250 there must be some difference in quality.
Woo-hoo.
I've received the phone call saying that I can pick the buggy up tomorrow. :D
It passed the MOT yesterday but when the roof was fitted (which now has a larger window panel inserted) it was a bit too tight. This has resulted in a small piece being chopped out of the roll hoop which was done today. The hoop is being sanded down and painted and it will all be ready for collection tomorrow.
I will update with everything that has been done in due course along with some photos.
I will also be out and about looking for some opportunities for pictures to submit for the February challenge.
;-)up
That's good news Dave, your patience has paid off, will be good to see some pics 👍Deb
Thanks Deb.
I can't wait to get back out in it and I've still got my new heated gloves to try out if it gets a bit chilly!
;-)up
Cold 'n' windy tomorrow. Enjoy your gloves. 8)
Soooooooo!
As I have already mentioned I have got the buggy back with another 12 months MOT.
There were a few little niggly things that needed doing and I also wanted the roof sorted out with a new rear window panel fitted so that I could actually see out of the back!
This was my view before which I think you will agree wasn't great.
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0wmkdkH/Screenshot-20220205-100709-Gallery.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
And this is how things look now.
(https://i.postimg.cc/WbKPtxjZ/Screenshot-20220205-100549-Gallery.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
From the outside it went from this....
(https://i.postimg.cc/VLX3Lv7x/20211117-114644.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7fYBKHr9)
...to this.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XqdDJ1gf/20220204-134148.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Lg4VQTw5)
The other thing that I decided to do was to replace all 4 tyres. The ones on the front looked OK but I did not know how long they had been on there.
I wanted to replace the rears with something a bit more modern anyway and it made sense to put new ones on the front while I was at it. I have replaced the fronts with a like for like size of 175/65/15.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4xdb2FhW/20220204-155647.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Lnc1nDDP)
The Protrac N50B15's came off the rear and have been replaced with Goodrich 275/60/15's.
(https://i.postimg.cc/7hwS3BkM/20220204-142634.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FdCfmV17)
The engine was also misfiring and this has now been resolved. The overall result is that the buggy is now running and driving much better than before.
So now with 4 new tyres, a new larger rear window panel that I can actually see through, 12 months MOT and my new Christmas heated gloves, I'm all set to get back out there!
Fortunately when I picked the buggy up the weather was cracking so I managed a good drive to blow away those cobwebs.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mZj9xy4J/20220204-142556.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6T7qnRyf)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSpw686w/20220204-153651.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RWTZ4LD4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vHjcMPNq/20220204-152422.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LntH3VRL)
All looking smart and tidy although the key matter is being fully operational which it clearly is.
So have you got any. Cornish animals to pose by?
That is the next challenge on my list!
Buggy Looking good Dave hope the weather stays nice for you to enjoy 👍Deb
Thanks Deb.
;-)up
Glad you got the buggy back and all looking good for a good year of cruising.
Good news down there but have you noticed a difference with the new tyres on.
Yes I have noticed a difference Snoopy and it is for the better. The buggy seems to be more grounded and less 'frantic' for want of a better term especially at higher speeds.
By the way what sort of tyre pressures are generally recommended?
12 to 15 psi in the front and 15 to 20 in the rear there is no definitive answer as buggies and tyres differ, it is trial and error.
Nice one thanks.
Good news Dave
Re pressure as Keith says every one is different, I'm on 18 front 22 rear at the moment
I found a reasonable guide is to inflate them reasonably high, say 30 them deflate until the sidewall just starts to bulge and check the reading. If the sidewall can't move the tyres can't really work and the ride will feel harsh.
Then drive it
Thanks for that.
I think mine need to come down a bit. They are currently 18 at the front and 27 at the rear. When I get chance I will let a bit of air out and see how it goes.
Front is probably fine but the back sounds too high.
I use rain tyres on the front, the softer compound really helps with the lack of weight and the softer sidewalls absorb the bumps well.
Buggies can handle well, for a car that age.
You will feel differences as you adjust tyre pressure, only real advice I can give is get them roughly right then adjust one end at a time. Get it close in the dry as having it way out in the wet can be expensive.
Too hard tends to be twitchy and easy to lock up, too soft there's a lack of feel.
Good luck, you'll get there.
Have now dropped the tyre pressures to 16 at the front and 22 at the rear.
The combination of this with the change of tyres means that the buggy is driving so much better.
Really enjoyed my drive out yesterday.
:D
Good news and simple tweaks make a difference.
Got recognised the other day when I was out walking my dog. A chap came jogging towards me and stopped and said 'I saw you driving a yellow Beach Buggy the other day'.
Turns out he lives just down the road and owns a Ford Thunderbird.
I will endeavour to get a photo of the 2 cars together at some point. It will be a bit like Little and Large!
Missed a trick today.
The buggy is in my Mums garage due to my own garage being full of our lounge furniture whilst decorating. There is no way I can get the buggy in the garage as long as our 6 foot dining table is in there. (Well not unless I drastically alter the look of the dining table and I don't think that would go down well).
Anyway popped over to my Mums today to do a few bits for her and thought maybe I can squeeze in a quick trip out as the sun was shining.
By the time I had finished what I had gone over there to do the weather came in overcast and drizzly so I abandoned the idea of going for a spin in the buggy.
On the way back home I realised that I have just had the roof refurbished specifically so that I can go out when the weather is not so good.
D'oh. ::)
Doh! Think we have 3 days of rain coming, perfect for testing your hood. :)
Well I now feel like a real buggy owner and I think I'm also a fully qualified mechanic.
I went out for the first drive in a while (damn work getting in the way of my fun!) and the heavens opened.
I put the roof on and drove for the first time in serious rain. (I can confirm that I am a bit drier than I would have been without the roof).
Unfortunately the windscreen wipers decided to give up but I managed to fix them all by myself ;D
Well, I tightened up a nut and they now work.
This is how the buggy looked when I parked in the garage having just got back.
(https://i.postimg.cc/SxjZZ9tg/20220517-114749.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKq7FKtX)
Luxury !
Many - well mine and a few others I've seen - soft tops leak/allow in water somewhere, somehow. You usually get a minute or so before a rivulet around the windscreen or drip starts. However, not having rain splattering in your face and down your neck is a real respite from the uncomfortable alternative. We southerners need our creature comforts.
;D ;D
Don't know I'm born.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Zq7H1R3H/20220517-152547.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/f3dYdM8S)
All dried out and ready to go once more!
(https://i.postimg.cc/cJRZmpnd/20220517-154339.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/06yL5Hn4)
Another 12 months MOT with no advisories.
Woo-hoo!
:D
Excellent. Today has been a break from raining in Herefordshire so I hope you didn't need your fancy bed soft top to reach the MOT station.
;D It was a nice change to have a break in the rain but I have to confess that the roof was on - just in case!
Just received some bespoke floor mats which I rather like.
(https://i.postimg.cc/85xLGDTq/20230528-120133.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Kkr176kN)
They do look smart - you'll need to have clean shoes.
I do like the look of those Dave 👍
Thanks Hugh and Debs.
I'm pleased with them and had been meaning to get some for ages.
They came as a set of 4 so I will use the rears to line my storage box in the back. (Calling it a 'boot' is probably a bit generous) ;D
Picked the buggy up yesterday having had the the gearbox fixed. The chap did explain the problem to me but I'm not exactly sure so here are some pictures he sent me.
I know that he had a few problems due to the fact that the floor pan is actually 1957 as per my V5 but for some reason it is registered on a 'B' plate.
(https://i.postimg.cc/W4pDxV77/PHOTO-2023-09-19-16-40-22.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZWgKy129)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d0Ds8VBg/PHOTO-2023-09-19-16-40-22-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/945H2VsB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/FHHN4H21/PHOTO-2023-09-19-16-40-21.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w7ZS5gxd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/25PDhF3B/PHOTO-2023-09-19-16-40-18.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/06dFqSY8)
Great a definite issue has been identified and sorted.
Looks like major impact damage on that rod. Off roading over those old Cornish mines ?!
I try and drive quite it quite sensibly Hugh as I am slightly paranoid about causing damage. Of course I have no way of knowing how previous owners have driven it!
I had just taken it to this spot for some photos when the gears failed. It is only slightly bumpy but I went in with all the gears working and came out with just 2!
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQnhCgNz/Screenshot-20230920-113222-Gallery.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xqByfLwG)
Joking aside I think that is serious damage that must have been caused some time ago and was waiting to cause you trouble.
Always something with buggys...
looks butchered during build.
I decided this year that when I renewed my insurance I would get an agreed valuation on it.
When the time came I provided the required photographs of front, rear, both sides, interior and 'engine bay' to the best of my ability.
I explained over the phone that there isn't an engine bay in the conventional sense and the engine is seen on the photo of the rear of the car.
I have been waiting some weeks now and finally got an email back today saying that I had not attached a picture of the engine bay.
I have replied to say that what looks like a bonnet at the front of the car is really just a panel covering the fuel tank. I reattached the image of the back of the buggy and explained once more that it is the best I can do for a picture of the engine bay.
I will now revert to waiting.
Who's that with Dave? Never had that problem
A Plan/Howden asked for all 4 sides, interior, odometer and engine bay.
So the last was a close-up of the engine. Also included open bonnet, it's a Doon, and with roof on.
My insurance is with Lancaster.
I have sent a couple of course up pictures of the engine and hopefully they will suffice.
I will keep you posted!
If your old insurance hasn't expired yet you can walk away and give our friends at a plan Thatcham a ring. They know what a beach buggy is
Have already done the renewal and just waiting on the agreed valuation part but will bear in mind for next year!
The fact they have no idea on an engine bay on a buggy is worrying if you should put a claim in do they actually know what they have insured.
Probably expect a little electric engine in the front and golf clubs in the back ;D
How did they get on with the modifications question?
I had already disclosed all of the modifications in previous years and just decided to add the agreed valuation to it. This includes the fact that it has a Beach Buggy body so you would think that they would know what one of those is.
:-\
Quote from: Cornishdave on October 17, 2023, 11:02:00 AM
I had already disclosed all of the modifications in previous years and just decided to add the agreed valuation to it. This includes the fact that it has a Beach Buggy body so you would think that they would know what one of those is.
:-\
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Erm . . . Nope . . . They probably don't. ::)
One of the reasons many of us on here use A-Plan / Howdens (or whatever they call themselves next month) is because they not only know and understand exactly what a Beach Buggy is, but if you have been to any of the shows, you have probably found Carlie at some point sitting in your car ;)
Another 12 months MOT, no issues.
Woo-hoo!
:D
;-)up ;-)up
Just been out for a rather pleasant drive although a couple of times it looked like the heavens were going to open.
Fortunately it stayed dry although the roads were a bit muddier than expected.
(Standing by for comments along the lines of 'call that muddy?' etc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vBg8QyL7/20241029-151420.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7G4rVpRb)
That's a very light pebbledash effect.
Bet it's easier to get off than the sheep poo I had all up the side of mine.
Yes that's a mild dose of mud and I thought your flared mug guards would have prevented even that. My rear wheels can splatter the mud across the passenger seat and into the rear area. The drivers side is usually only just inside the car edge but that's mainly because the passenger side tends to get more into the verge dirt.
I've had wet cow poo that flicked and splattered decoratively all up the sides and only just came in as I drove very slowly through some on a lane but my challenge was to get home asap as on the sunny day it was baking on and that took some shifting.
The October calendar image shows why cabs are sometimes adviseable.
Delighted to report that the Buggy passed its MOT today but the heavens opened for the drive back home afterwards. Fortunately I had deployed the roof and therefore stayed 6% drier and almost 14% warmer than I would have been if I had opted to leave it off.
That's a decent roof to give those figures